Posted by
Lloyd Donaldson on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/IMAGING-OF-CELLULOSE-tp7582017p7582028.html
For confocal microscopy use congo red, pontamine fast scarlet or calcofluor to stain cellulose. Alternatively fluorescently labelled cellulose binding domains are available or you can just fluorescently label some cellulase enzyme. However visualising beyond the surface layer will be difficult. To see the cross-section you can embed the paper in resin and cut cross-sections and stain them with toluidine blue for brightfield microscopy. You can also polish the cross-section of embedded paper, stain with iodine vapour and image with SEM in backscattered mode (also useful for visualising clay fillers or coatings. There is an extensive literature on this topic mainly in specialist pulp & paper journals.
Dr Lloyd Donaldson
Project Leader – Microscopy & Wood Identification
Senior Scientist – Plant Cell Walls & Biomaterials
Scion – Forests, Products, Innovation
49 Sala Street, Rotorua 3010
New Zealand
Ph 07 343 5581
www.scionresearch.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:
[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Philip Oshel
Sent: Wednesday, 7 May 2014 2:48 a.m.
To:
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Subject: Re: IMAGING OF CELLULOSE
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Scanning electron microscopy works very well for imaging papers and other such cellulosic products and their coatings.
Also, the paper (etc.) can be "fractured" in liquid nitrogen to produce high quality edges to image the inner layers of the paper (etc.), and the coating layers. Cutting tends to smear the surface over the cut edge
- this is more of an issue with coated papers.
Phil
> Hello,
> Does anybody know of microscopy techniques for 3D imaging of paper or
> other cellulose based fabrics? We have been trying with confocal
> microscopy and did imaging of the surface of the outer layer of
> cellulose fibers, but were unable to go through the fibers and image the underlying layers.
> Best regards,
> Dario
--
Philip Oshel
Microscopy Facility Supervisor
Biology Department
024C Brooks Hall
Central Michigan University
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
(989) 774-3576
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